does it matter what time you purchase the essential equipment for your SPS reef? is it better to purchase all of the best equipment (in your eyes) before you initialy setup your system or is it ok to buy it as you go without having tremendous effects on your tank. what certain items are better to get first intitially before setting up your tank and what are idealy not all that important and can be purchased down the road. i am asking because i am so so eager to set up my tank now!!! and i dont really have all my equipment like the skimmmer and etc but i dont want to do it if my system will suffer for it later.
An important NewBie Question
- Thread starter thefuture
- Start date
MCsaxmaster
New member
Well, I would say you'll want to have all the equipment you need to run the tank well before you're thinking about getting corals. As far as priorities go though, I'd probably rate things like good live rock and pumps very high in importance and things like lighting lower on the list. This is not to say that light is not important, but it would be better to have the best pumps and the second-best lighting than the other way around. The most important thing is patience though. I personally wouldn't stick any coral in a tank less than at least 3-4 months old--better yet 6 months.
cj
cj
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I would follow Chris' advice.
Give this hobby, [esp Acropora] is a long-term sort of mission [IMO, it takes at least a year for an Acropora tank to look `grown in' ... if not much longer] ... IMO keep the long-term perspective.
I too would get the water flow, the export [skimming/etc] all set, working just ideal - before adding coral. Similarly, you can always upgrade lights later, add more actinic/etc ... but I would buy quality pumps/etc first.
Along with that, I'd keep an eye on power use. You might pay more initially for electrically efficient pumps/powerheads/etc ... but it really helps in the long-run.
Give this hobby, [esp Acropora] is a long-term sort of mission [IMO, it takes at least a year for an Acropora tank to look `grown in' ... if not much longer] ... IMO keep the long-term perspective.
I too would get the water flow, the export [skimming/etc] all set, working just ideal - before adding coral. Similarly, you can always upgrade lights later, add more actinic/etc ... but I would buy quality pumps/etc first.
Along with that, I'd keep an eye on power use. You might pay more initially for electrically efficient pumps/powerheads/etc ... but it really helps in the long-run.
panic
Premium Member
A Drilled tank, sump, Rock and flow, skimmer, RODI, water stabilization (reactors- Ca, kalk, topoff, ect.) and temp control (fans, heaters, chiller), snails, lighting with timers. Fish then corals. Then think about random flow and more water stabilizers such as phosphate removers if you like it, UV, or ozone. Don't forget corals. Of course this is all highly debatable.
